Lampard hints at Chelsea exit as deal talks stall

Frank Lampard has urged Chelsea to speed up negotiations over a new contract as rumours of an impending bid from Barcelona intensify.

Frank Lampard has urged Chelsea to speed up negotiations over a new contract as rumours of an impending bid from Barcelona intensify.

The Catalan giants are reported to be planning a 30-million-euro offer to tempt Lampard away from Stamford Bridge after learning that talks between the player and Chelsea have so far come to nothing.

Lampard, who has only two years of his current contract remaining, made it clear after the FA Cup Final in May that he was happy to stay in London - and he expected those comments to elicit an instant response from the club.

Instead, however, he has been greeted by silence and now the 29-year-old admits the situation is becoming uncomfortable.

He said: "It feels kind of strange. It's something I am trying to put my mind off a little bit.

"When you've had a long season the last thing you want to do is go away for a month and wreck your missus' and kids' holiday by stressing over other things.

"In an ideal world I would like it to be sorted before the season starts. In an ideal world I would have done it three weeks ago. But it's not an ideal world is it? That's life.

"Right now my mind is on going back to pre-season training with Chelsea. Of course I said after the Cup Final that I wanted to stay but nothing has moved on from there. That's probably what leaves me in the situation I'm in."

Lampard has refused to criticise Chelsea for dragging their feet but hints he is upset the club has not been more proactive in offering a deal that himself and agent Steve Kutner can be happy with.